Matheran toy train not back on track, but get ready to pay more for tickets
Central Railway authorities have prepared a proposal to increase the price of tickets and are awaiting approval from the headquarters
Waiting for the Neral–Matheran toy train to begin operations so you can travel to your favourite hill station? You may soon have to pay a little more for a seat.
Central Railway authorities have prepared a proposal to increase the price of tickets and are awaiting approval from the headquarters.
The cost of ordinary class tickets is set to increase from Rs20 to Rs40, a second class ticket is now up from Rs50 to Rs60, a reserved class ticket will cost Rs75, up from Rs65, and a first class seat is now set to cost Rs285 from Rs235.
Railway authorities said the fare hike will bring the cost of train tickets on par with those of MSRTC buses, which operate from Neral to Dasturi Naka — the entry point to Matheran.
“We have increased fares minimally and are currently awaiting approval,” said a CR official, who did not wish to be identified.
The toy train has been non operational for more than a year, following a series of derailments near Aman Lodge.
The train had derailed twice within two weeks last year. No one was hurt.CR officials had decided to suspend services till they received safety permissions.
Neral residents who head to Matheran for work have since been requesting CR authorities to restart the services. However, owing to several issues, they have been delayed.